Dakota clearly heard her own heartbeat.
Her skin felt like it was burning, as if a flame were covering her back, igniting sensitive nerve endings and coursing through her bloodstream and limbs.
Curtis's breathing was especially audible.
Dakota closed her eyes, feeling the environment around her blur, but the contours of Curtis's arms and chest were outlined by their intimate contact.
Her breathing became short.
Her face was hot.
But the sense of security from being held tightly calmed her previously fluttering heart.
"Curtis," she called softly.
"Hmm," he responded.
"Why do you like me?"
Curtis's gaze froze for a moment. He hadn't expected Dakota to suddenly ask such a question.
But his expression was firm and direct. Asked suddenly about the reason he liked her, he didn't seem flustered, as if he was completely certain of his feelings.
"Why do I like you?"
Curtis chuckled softly, brushing past her ear.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing his lips to her ear and chuckling softly, "No reason."
"Kota." He called her name, "From the first time you kissed me, you bewitched my heart."
Dakota's heart suddenly accelerated.
She hadn't expected Curtis to speak such sweet words, and surprisingly... they sounded good.
His breath was close.
It made her neck tingle and itch.
Dakota bit her lip, murmuring, "How did I not notice before that you're so good at sweet talk..."
Back then, she only thought he was a nuisance.
And whenever they argued, he would chatter non-stop, but normally he didn't seem capable of saying anything nice.
But when it comes to romance...
He's actually pretty good at talking.
Curtis chuckled again, "Yeah, because I've never liked anyone before. I'll learn in the future."
Dakota felt her ears grow even hotter.
She clutched the blanket, but the discomfort and tension gradually faded away, replaced by a fluttering of her heartstrings.
Dakota didn't say anything else.
Curtis drew close after taking a deep breath, seeming to want to kiss her, but then he paused, thinking that he hadn't won her over yet, and said, "Let's sleep."
Dakota didn't know how she eventually fell asleep.
She only remembered the initial tension which later melted into a fluttering heart. Curtis still held her tightly, but without making her feel suffocated.
Instead, she seemed to smell a comforting scent.
It was probably the scent of Curtis's shampoo or shower gel, carrying a cold, woody fragrance that strongly reassured her, lulling her to sleep.
Later, Dakota fell asleep.
Then the alarm clock rang, waking her up in the morning light.
And when Dakota opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Curtis's pale, sexy collarbone, the sunlight streaming in from behind him, making his half-profile particularly striking.
Dakota's eyelashes fluttered.
She felt a bit at a loss and wanted to move back, but Curtis's arm was against her lower back.
He lowered his head.
His forehead lightly touching hers, "What are you hiding from?"
The morning voice of a man was slightly hoarse, perhaps because his vocal cords hadn't fully awakened, lending a bit of sexiness to the low, husky tone.
Dakota felt her heart melt a little.
"Not hiding."
She found it a bit hard to meet Curtis's eyes.
Ever since he clearly expressed his intention to pursue her, his gaze had become too direct, almost soul-captivating.
"It's time to get up for work..."
"Yeah." Curtis's voice was even sexier as he reached out to smooth the stray hair by Dakota's ear, "I'll drive you."
Dakota nodded slightly.
She had left her car at museum yesterday. Because of Alan's unexpected visit, she had followed Curtis's car, and if he didn't drive her, she'd probably have to take a taxi.
Dakota got up, holding the blanket.
She felt oddly awkward in this scene, perhaps because she was used to sleeping alone and wasn't accustomed to having someone next to her when waking up.
And just as she was getting up—
she suddenly felt a chill on her shoulder as the strap of her sleeping gown slipped down.
